Devon skidded around the corner of the hall but didn't lose a step as he raced forward. His body thrummed with dread as his skin crawled. He couldn't move any faster, yet it wasn't fast enough. Not nearly fast enough. Too much time had passed; she'd been alone with Julian for far too long, and he knew she was with Julian, she had to be. Only Julian could have inspired the amount of terror emanating from her.

Devon tried not to think about the many things Julian could have done to her already. Things Devon could never fix. The bathroom was right there, just out of range, but so very close.

The door shattered outward, wood splintered as the door was forced to go in a direction it wasn't designed to. Cassie and Julian tumbled out of the wreckage; they bounced off the wall on the opposite side of the hall before tumbling to the floor. Cassie lurched up in an attempt to free herself of Julian's grasp, but he didn't relinquish her. Swinging around, her fist connected with Julian's cheek and snapped his head to the side.

The scent of her blood and soap hung heavily in the air, but Devon had prepared himself for the scent of her blood. Instead of the smell sending him into a blood frenzy again, it only served to enrage him further. Julian also seemed to have prepared himself for the scent of her blood this time. Instead of becoming feral and crazed with his drive to get at her, he remained in complete control of himself as he grasped for Cassie again.

Cassie was nearly free of him when Julian snagged hold of her ankle and jerked her back. With a startled cry, she fell to the floor. Her chin bounced off the ground with a harsh crack as her hands gave out. She screamed as Julian pulled her toward him. Turning onto her back, she kicked forcefully out. Devon was momentarily astounded by the force of her blow. He knew Julian's strength, knew his powers, and what he was capable of, but his head shot back and the crack of his jaw resonated down the hallway. Though she connected hard, he didn't let go of her.

Devon's bellow echoed throughout the halls of the school. Cassie's head whipped toward him, her relief was nearly palpable as her eyes latched onto his. A small smile curved Julian's mouth as he released Cassie and leapt to his feet. Devon bounded over top of her, and seized hold of Julian's throat as he slammed into him.

For the first time in over a century he fully released the beast he'd been struggling to keep locked away. It tore free of him with a savage intensity that was more of a relief than he cared to acknowledge. He would annihilate Julian, not only for hurting her, but for daring to touch her at all. All reason fled, his humanity vanished as the monster in him took complete control and his lust for the kill sprang forth.

The metal of the lockers twisted and folded as it bent beneath their weights with a tortured screech. Devon was so infuriated he didn't feel the blow that sliced through his side, to expose his ribs and spill his blood. Nor did Julian slow when Devon shattered his arm against the water cooler in the hall.

* * *

Cassie crab crawled backward as Julian's grip was torn free. Her heart leapt into her throat as Devon collided with him and bashed him into the lockers. The growls and roars filling the air caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. She should flee, but she found herself unable to move as she remained riveted upon the brutal fight.

She'd never seen so much violence and hatred. They tore at each other with the frenzy she associated with sharks when they smelled blood. The copper scent of it filled the air, but neither of them eased in their assault as they were determined to kill each other.

She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. It was like watching a train wreck, but this wreck involved the love of her life, a man she didn't recognize right now. His eyes were crimson and his face was twisted into a brutal snarl. His fangs were longer than Julian's, extended past his lower lip as he slashed at Julian. She didn't know this person, but she did know he would kill for her.

They rolled across the lockers, twisting and warping the metal as they moved. Locks were torn off and shattered upon the ground beneath their feet. Blood dripped down Devon's side and splashed on the ground. The sight of that blood jolted her back into action. Leaping to her feet, Cassie's gaze darted back to the bathroom. Her purse was somewhere in there with a small stake tucked discreetly inside. She didn't want to leave the fight for a second, let alone the amount of time it would take for her to find the thing.

Her attention was snagged back as Devon bellowed loudly and smashed the palm of his hand into Julian's chest. The loud crack of Julian's ribs reverberated through the air. Cassie's mouth dropped as Julian flew backward a good ten feet before slamming into a classroom door. The glass in the center shattered, the frame bent, and the doorknob was torn off as Julian flopped against it.

She took a step back as she realized she didn't belong here. This was not her fight, not anymore, but no matter how much she tried to get her feet to move, no matter how much she longed to escape, she wouldn't leave him. If something happened to him, she was going to be here, and she was going to give him whatever help she could.

Julian shook his head as he attempted to rise to his feet. A wheezing sound escaped him as he stumbled back. Attempting to rise to his feet again, he staggered forward before dropping once more. Devon stepped in his way; a loud snarl escaped him as Julian's gaze focused briefly on her. Though he wasn't smiling anymore, there was an oddly amused twinkle in Julian's ice blue eyes that unsettled her.

She didn't like the way he studied her. It was too intense, too questioning, and there was a strange, unsettling gleam in his eyes. It was as if he saw too much, as if he understood her in a way she didn't even understand herself. His blond eyebrows rose into his hair as a dawning realization settled in his eyes. She yearned to wrap her arms around herself and shrink from his strangely comprehensive stare, but she found herself unable to move.

"Don't look at her!" Devon spat as he took a defensive step forward. His shoulders were locked, his hands fisted at his sides as his body thrummed with fury.

"I'm going to be looking at her for eternity when I'm done with her."

Devon released a sound that was part growl, part snarl, and something utterly terrifying. Julian grinned as he gave Devon a come here wave with that caused all of the hair on her arms and neck to stand up. Julian had something up his sleeve. Devon must have sensed the same thing as he didn't heedlessly rush back at him again.

Cassie jumped and a startled cry escaped her when a hand seized hold of her elbow. She spun, ready to fight again until she saw Chris and Melissa standing there, their eyes wide as they scanned her ruined, blood stained dress. Another bellow brought their attention back to Devon and Julian. This time however, Devon's attention was not focused upon Julian, but on them.

Mouth parting in alarm, Cassie pulled her arm free of Chris's grasp. Devon's red eyes continued to gleam as his focus centered upon Chris. Trepidation pounded through Cassie as realization hammered throughout her. Devon was so far gone he would attack anyone right now.

Swallowing heavily, she held up her hands as she tried to ward him off. "No Devon," she whispered, praying she could still reach him. "No, he didn't hurt me. Chris would never hurt me."

Devon's blood colored eyes were more than a little disarming. She'd never seen him like this, had never known he could be like this, and she was terrified he would kill her friend. She wasn't sure she could stop him when he was so far gone. She didn't know this person, this creature before her, but she still loved him. She just had to keep him from killing Chris.

Chris pushed Melissa back with him. "Devon," Cassie whispered as her gaze briefly shot to Julian.

He was still on the ground but his attention was focused upon them. Upon her still. If it hadn't been for Chris, he would be dead by now, but he wasn't taking the opportunity to run during his brief reprieve. He had to realize he'd lost this fight, why would he stay?

Devon took another step toward them, his intensity still focused on Chris. Instinctively, Chris grasped hold of her elbow and tried to pull her back. Cassie knew it had been the wrong thing to do, the wrong move to make.

Another bellow escaped Devon as he leapt over the debris generated by the brutal fight and raced at them. A strangled cry escaped Cassie as he launched himself at Chris. Though he'd told her once never to get in between a vampire and its prey, she didn't take the time to think about the consequences of her actions. She just hoped it didn't end badly. Cassie stepped in front of Chris to block Devon's attack with her body. She would willingly die before she allowed him to destroy her best friend. Ducking her head, she held her hands up as she braced herself for the blow she knew was about to ensue.

Devon's arms wrapped around her as lifted her up and pulled her away from Chris's hold. His touch was surprisingly gentle considering his frame of mind, and the murderous intent humming through his body. His hands entangled in her hair as he cradled her head against his chest.

The tension thrumming through him eased as he buried his face in her neck. Cassie stayed perfectly still as she sensed the tenuous hold he had upon his control as his lips skimmed over her flesh. The beast was fighting with the man as it strived to break free once more. Fought to satiate itself on her blood. If she moved a millimeter she was afraid she would set it free.

He shuddered; his hand upon her waist became painful. She could feel the bruises he left, but she didn't protest, didn't flinch away from him. His lips stopped over the pulsing vein going haywire with her heartbeat. Despite the apprehension pounding through her, she couldn't stop the thrill of excitement enshrouding her as his fangs scraped her skin ever so slightly.

Cassie's knees wobbled and threatened to give out. Despite her plan not to move, she couldn't stop her fingers from digging into his back as she fought against offering him her vein. Though she yearned for this far more than she'd realized she knew here was not the place. This was not the time.

He would never forgive himself if he took her here, and he would blame it on his lack of control. Nor did she wish for Melissa and Chris to see it, and she especially didn't want Julian to be there. This was something for the two of them to share, something to cherish and remember for the rest of her life, and she didn't want the memory to involve the hall of her high school.

Yet she didn't fight him, didn't push him away. He needed her now, she was also the only one who could calm him down. He shuddered once more and his grip on her eased. She tried not to feel disappointed as his mouth left her neck, but she couldn't help it. He was back; she knew in her soul what held her now was the man. The man, whose love for her was stronger than the demon's thirst for her blood.

"Don't ever put yourself in front of me again." His hand constricted in her hair as he kissed her forehead roughly. "I could have killed you."

She hated the self-contempt in his voice. "Never," she whispered.

Devon's head jerked up, a low growl escaped him as Julian launched to his feet and finally managed to stay upright. Julian's icy eyes gleamed with contempt as he surveyed them. "How the mighty have fallen," he murmured as he shook his head.

Though Devon didn't release her, he subtly shifted his body more in front of hers and took a small step toward Julian. Julian grinned as he flicked his fingers through his disheveled white blond hair. "Now, now, Devon stay calm, things are just starting to get interesting."

"What are you talking about?" Devon demanded.

Julian's grin only spread as his eyes flickered behind them. The foreboding creeping through her made it difficult to breathe. A new presence filled the hall, one just as malevolent and cold as Julian, but this one also emitted a jealousy and loathing so thick it was nearly choking.

Cassie braced herself before turning to face this new presence. A woman stepped around the corner of the hall and moved toward them with the eerie grace of the undead. Cassie's mouth parted as she took in the woman's astonishing beauty. The black dress she wore swayed with her hips and provocative walk. The pale beauty of her face contrasted vividly with the color of her dress and ruby red lips. Her features were elegant and refined; her cheekbones high, and her nose slender. Dark auburn hair spilled down her back, swaying against her knees in flowing waves as she moved.

Devon straightened to his full height as the tension in his body notched up to a whole new level. The woman lifted a dark eyebrow as she studied them with amused disdain. She had the most astonishing, frosty eyes, Cassie had ever seen. They were the color of pure molten gold and shone brilliantly. Those eyes pinned Cassie to the spot as the full force of the woman's hatred blasted against her.

"Forgive me," Devon breathed in her ear.

Cassie questioningly glanced up at him, but he wasn't looking at her. Forgive him? Forgive him for what?

His emerald eyes flashed with hostility as he focused on the beautiful woman. "Isla," he greeted with icy disdain.

The woman smiled seductively to reveal her already extended fangs. "Hello lover," she purred.

The breath wheezed forcefully out of Cassie, the beat of her heart stopped for a frantic moment as uncertainty and hurt tore through her in equal measures. If his hands hadn't been clenched upon her, she would have fallen down. Lover? Her gaze darted between them as pain cracked through her with the force of lightning bolts.

She'd known there were women in his past, there had to be. But this woman, this woman! Cassie trembled as she looked back at the stunning doll before her. This woman was something Cassie had never remotely fathomed. She was exceedingly beautiful and radiated a raw sexuality and poise Cassie could never possess. How could she possibly compete with her? Her confidence shaken, Cassie simply tried to breathe through the constriction in her chest.

Struggling to stay composed, she met Isla's feral gold eyes once more. From the gleam in those eyes Cassie knew she'd already let too much of her emotions slip.